Water softener



April 1937- A. c. ZIMMERMAN 2,078,361

' WATER SOFTENER I Filed April 2, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOI? ARTHUR 6. Z/MMERMHN.

mm 7 6M April 27 1937i A. C. ZIMMERMAN WATER SOFTENER Filed April 2, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 f 5 M H M 0 V 7 N 4 T v A U w R V AYWQ I April '27, 1937. AQc. ZIMMERMAN 2,078,361

' WATER SOFTENER Filed April 2, 1934 Y 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 M7001? a. Z/MMf/FM/YM A. c. ZIMMERMAN 2,078,361

April 27, 1 937.

WATER SOFTENER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 2', 1934 ARTHUR 6. Z/MMFRMA/V.

' HTTO/P/VEYS Patented Apr. 27', 1937 warns some:

C. Zimmerman, Dayton, Ohio, toTheDnro Company, Dayton. hio,aoerporation of Ohio mum... April 2.1m. semi No. 71am a cum. (cl. sic-w This invention relates to improvements in water softeners, and has for its object to provide a water softener that is automatic in all respects and which may be adjusted to vary the regenerating period, the rinsing period and the refill period, the adjustable elements being operated by the flow of hard water to automatically terminate and start the various operating periods just mentioned. v It is alsoan object of this invention to provide.

in connection with a water softener, means ineluding a pair of valves for controlling the various time intervals in connection with a water softener, and adjustable means for operating the valves in succession to determine the length of the time periods.

These and other advantages will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings. Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation showing the complete water softening outfit.

Figure 2 is a view taken from the rlghthand side of that shown in Figure 1. as Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 4'. Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the valve mechanism located on top of the softening tank.

Figure 5 is a section through the refill andv rinse control valve.

30 Figure 6 is a section through the regenerating valve.

Figure '7 is a top plan view of the valve operating mechanism with parts of the housing therefor removed.

35 Figure 8 is a front of the valve operating mechanism with parts of the housing therefor removed.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the valve operating mechanism with parts of the housing there- 40 for removed and parts broken away.

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view comprising a vertical section through a portion of Figure 9. and showing the details of the pilot valve-operating mechanism.

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic layout view of the hydraulic circuit and elements of the water softening outfit shown in Figures 1 and 2.

In the present water softener there is the usual ['0 brine tank I having an overflow pipe 2 and a softening tank 3, suitably connected to the brine tank. The water to be softened is supplied by a hard water pipe 4, which leads into a meter 6. Either the meter directly adjacent the hard wa- 55 ter pipe or the pipe itself may be providedwith a and to the meter.

a brine flll pipe and valve 8 for the purpose of supplying water to the brine tank in the event that the required amount is not automatically supplied. The meter is supported on top of the brine tank 5 by means of legs 1 suitably attached to the tank Extending from the meter, opposite the hard water pipe 4 (Figures 1 and 2) is a hard water pipe la. one end of which is connected to the meter casing and the other to a T- 10 coupling 3. To this coupling there is attached ,one end of a downwardly extending'hard water.

pipe 3 and one end of a horizontally extending pipe II. The pipe I has its other end connected to a valve easing II. to which one end of a pipe l5 i2 is attached, with its other end connected to the bottom of the softening tank 3. The valve casing II is also provided with a waste water pipe l3;

, To the other endof 'the'pipe In is attached a T-coupling II to which a valve easing I5 is attached. This casing has the refill valve therein.- operated by 'a'reiill control valve It, later to be described. The T-connection I 4 has attached thereto one end of an upwardly extending hard water pipe I, the other end of which is attached to the valve easing It by means of an extension or pipe tap II. The valve casing I8 is supported on top of the softening tank by means of suitable supports l3, and is connected to the top of the softening tank by means of a connection or pipe 2|. This valve casing It has also attached there to one end of a service or supply outlet pipe 2i;

Extending from the valve casing I! to an extension or tap 23 on the valve casing I3 is a hard water pipe 22. In the extension I! of the valve ll (Figures 3 and 4) there is an opening 25 provided with a hollow plug 24 connected by means of a brine pipe 26 to a valve casing 21. From this valve casing 21 extends'a brine pipe 28, which terminates in the bottom of the brine tank for conducting the brine to the softening tank for regenerating purposes. The extension I! of the valve I3 is hollow (Figure 3) and has therein an injector device. This injector device consists of a plug 23 with a small centrally arranged bore 30 through which the water passes from the hard water pipe It for regenerating purposes, and a second plug 3i in aligned spacedarelationship with the plug 29, the second plug 3| having a Venturi passageway 32 leading into a chamber 33. From this chamber 33 extends a passageway 34 which terminates in a chamber 35 connected to the connection 20. It is through this chamber 35 that the tank.

On each side of the chamber 35 is a valve seat, one 36 around the passageway 34, and the other 31 around the passageway leading from the chamber into the service pipe. Between these two seats is a valve member 38 adapted to close either the passageway 34 or the passageway leading from the chamber 35 to the. service pipe. When the valve member 38 is in its lower position (Figure 3) against the valve seat 31, and the refill valve I5 is in its open position, hard water is admitted through the pipe 22 into the chambers 35 and 33 to overcome the injector action of the injector device and to cause refilling or the brine tank and washing of the softening tank. Extending upwardly from the valve member 38. is a stem 39, which has on top thereof a plate 40. This stem extends longitudinally through the valve casing I8 and has around it a packing H and a packing gland 42.' Suitably threaded into thevalve casing and around the valve stem is a cup 43, which has therein a spring 44 engaging both the cup and the gland so as to hold the gland and the packing in proper position to prevent water passes to and from the softening leakage along the valve stem. Around the cup is a larger spring 45, which has one end engaging a shoulder on the interior of the valve. casing, while its other end is in engagement with the plate 40.

The end of the valve casing I8 remote from the service pipe is flared out, as indicated by the numeral 46, and has attached thereto a cap 41, which has between it and the flared-out part 46 a diaphragm 48. These elements are connected by means of screws 49. The diaphragm and the cap form a pressure chamber 50, to which water under pressure is admitted for shifting the valve from one seat to the other. The spring 45 tends to hold the valve against the seat 36 so, that water is normally passing from the softening tank out through the service pipe. 7

In order to provide water when regeneration is taking place there is provided in the pipe 4, or any part of the meter casing adjacent thereto, a pipe 52 (Figure 9) leading to a valve casing 5|. This valve casing 5| is connected by means of a pipe 53 to the casing |8 or to the service pipe adjacent the casing. Threaded into the upper part of the meter casing is trol valve casing 54 (Figure 8) serving as a pilot or control valve and which has therein a plug 54a (Figure 6) forming a passageway 55 extending upwardly therethrough and terminating in a chamber 56. This chamber 56 is provided with a horizontally extending threaded opening 51. The part of the valve casing 54 above the chamber 48 forms a passageway 59 leading to a chamber 58.

From the chamber 58 is a laterally extending threaded opening 60 for the attachment of the drain pipe 1 I. The upper end of the valve casing 54 is provided with a cap 62. which has therein a hole through which the valve stem 66 passes. Around this stem is a packing 6|, just beneath the cap. In the chamber 56 is a valve 63 adapted to engage a seat 64 for closing the passageway 55 or engaging a seat 65 for closing the passageway 59. The valve stem 66 extends upwardly from this valve and out through the top and beyond the cap.

A pipe 61 (Figures 1 and By has one end threaded in the opening 51 of the valve casing 54 and to a T at its other end are attached two branch pipes Figure 7), one branch 68 leading to the valve casing II, and another the regeneration con- 67 lever within the slot 96 has branch 10 leading to the valve casing 5|, and continuing therebeyond in the line 69 leading to the valve casing I8. These pipes 68, 69 and 10 lead to pressure chambers for the purpose 0! providing pressure upon the diaphragm to operate valves within the casings II, I8 and 5|, respectively. These pressure chambers are similar to the pressure chamber shown in Figure 3 and designated; A drain pipe 1| has its open end connected to the threaded opening 60 and its other end connected to the overflow 2.

The chamber 56 has extending therefrom an outlet opening 12 into which is threaded one end of a pipe 13 extending into a chamber 14 of a pilot or control valve casing 15 (Figures 5 and 8) suitably supported on top of the meter adjacent the valve casing 54. The valve casing 54 forms the regeneration control valve casing. Within the valve casing 15 is a valve 16 from which there extends upwardly beyond the casing a valve stem 16a. To a hole 15a of this casing 15 is connected a T-connection 11. To this T-connection is attached one end of a bleed pipe 18, which has a restricted opening therein and terminates in the overflow 2. Also extending from this T-connection 11 is a pipe 19 to the valve casing I5 for operating the valve therein for rinsing and refilling purposes.

On top of the meter is a casing provided with a removable closure 80a (Figures 7,8 and 9). Extending upwardly from the interior of the meter is a meter shaft 8|, which has thereon an adjustable disc 82 which engages a largevertically disposed disc 83 mounted upon a shaft 84 rotatably supported by the housing structure. On this shaft 84 is a pinion 85 in mesh with a gear 86 upon a shaft 81. This shaft has thereon a pinion 88 in mesh with a gear 89 on a shaft 90. This shaft 90. also has thereon a pinion 9| which is in mesh with a gear 92 on a shaft 93. All of these shafts are supported in suitable bearings in the housing or partition formed therein.

The shaft 93 has in one of its bearings a boss upon a partition wall 94. On the upper end of the valve stem 16a is a head 95 (Figures 5 and 9), which has in its top-a slot 96 which divides the upper end of this shaft into two prongs. Across these prongs is a horizontally disposed slot 91. In the slot 96 is one end of a lever 98 pivoted at its other end to a bolt 99. The end of the extending therethrough apin I00 (Figure 8), which engages in the slot 91 for moving the valve 16 and the valve stem 16a up and down.

This lever 98 has extending from its pivoted end an upwardly and longitudinally disposed arm IOI which has in its free end a pin I02. A spring I03 is attached at one end to the lever 98 and at its other end to a lug on the valve casing 15. On top of the valve stem 66 is a head I04, which has connected thereto one end of each of a pair of links I05. The other ends of these links are connected to the bolt 99 which forms the pivot of the lever 98.

In a slot provided in the head I04 is pivoted one end of a trip member I06 (Figures 7 and 8), which extends upwardly and through a slot I01 in an arm I08 of a bellcrank lever pivoted at I09 on the housing. The other arm IIO of this lever,

which extends upwardly from the pivot, has therepin II8 located on the partition.

formed between a pair of adjacent notches I I4 in the left-hand edge of the trip member I05.. The upper and lower edges of the V-shaped projection or shoulder I I5 thus act as oppositely disposed cam surfaces adapted to engagethe pin II3. When the lower edge of the projection II5 engages the pin II3 on the arm I08, It is pulled toward the pin II3 by the spring IIB, thereby moving the trip member I06 upward and with it the valve stem 66, opening the valve in the casing 54. Similarly, when the upper edge of the projection II5 engages the pin II3, the spring IIS and the cana -like action of this edge cause the trip member I08 to 'be moved downward, closing the valve in the casing 54.

In the arm I08 is a hole III to receive a stop This stop pin II8 serves to limit the upward and downward swinging movements of the arm I08 of the bellcrank lever. Mounted upon the shaft 93 and without the partition is a cam segment I I9, which has thereon a cam surface I20 adapted to engage the pin I02. There is also mounted on the shaft 83 a second cam segment I2I, which has thereon a cam I22 for engaging the roller II2 on. the arm IIO. There is also provided on the shaft 93 a third cam segment I23, which has on one edge thereof a rib I24 provided with a cam surface I25 to engage the roller "2.

These various cam segments may be adjusted with relation to one another. The cam-segment I23 is provided with an arcuate slot I26 through which a screw I2'I, passes into the cam segment II8 for the purpose of holding the cam segment I23 in adjustment with relation to the cam segment H9. The cam segment I23 is provided with an arcuate slot I28, which has extending therethrough into the cam segment I2I a screw I29 for holding the cam segment I23 in adjustment with relation to the cam segment I2I.

, The cam segment I23 has thereona pair of lugs I 30 which support a screw I3I for rotation. This screw has at one end a head I32 and has thereon intermediate the lugs a projection I33,

which extends through a slot I34 in the cam segment I23 and is attached to the cam segment IIS. This screw in cooperation with the projection is for the purpose of providing a fine adjustment between the cam segment I23 and the cam segment II9.

In the operation of the water softening apparatus of this invention, the water from the pipe 4 causes the meter shaft 93 to rotate in a clockwise direction. As the shaft 93 rotates the cam surface I25 on therib I24 engages the roller II2 to force the arm IIO inward (Figure 8) and thus bring the arm I08 to its lowest position with the pin H8 in the hole I" thereof engaging the top edge of the hole. In this position the pin I I3 is forced downward over the ridge of the projection I I5 to engage the lower edge thereof. The spring I I6 then pulls this lower edge against the pin I I3, causing its cam-like action to raise the trip member I06 and valve stem 56, thus opening the regeneration control valve 54 so that water under pressure is applied to the various valves for regenerating purposes.

As the shaft 93 continues to rotate the cam surface I20 engages the pin I02, forcing the arm IOI downward so as to raise the valve stem 16a. This opens the valve I6 so that water under pressure will pass to the rinsing and refill valve casing I5 to operate the valve therein to direct the hard water through the pipe 22 for the purpose of putting a stop to regeneration and bringing about rinsing and refilling. As the shaft 03 continues to rotate, the cam surface I22 engages the roller II2, forcing the arm IIO outward. This moves the arm I08 upward against the stop pin II8, causing the pin II3 to ride upward over the ridge of the projection II5 so as to engage the upper cam edge-thereof. The spring IIIi then draws the stop arm I06 to the left and downward, closing the regeneration control valve 54 operated by the stem 85. This shuts off the water under pressure which operates the various valves, causing regeneration. The cam surface I20 engages the pin I02 to open the valve I6 sometime betweenthe time that the cam surface I25 has engaged the roller 2 to open the regeneration control valve 54 and the time that the cam I22 engages the roller II2 to close the valve 54. The relative time intervals for these cam engagements maybe varied by properly adjusting the segments with relation to one another.

After thecam I22 has engaged and passed beyondthe roller II2 the valve 63 on the stem is closed so that rinsing, refilling and regeneration are stopped and softening takes place. After the cam I22 has engaged the roller II2 the valve I6 remains open until the segment H9 passes beyond the pin I02. However, the valve I6 being open does not interfere with the softening since pressure has been cut off from the valve 15 by the closing of the valve 54 operated by the stem 56.

The various segments may be so adjusted that the quantity of water supplied for refilling is equal to the brine -used for regeneration. It is preferable to adjust the segments so that the quantityof water supplied for refilling purposes is less than the brine used for regeneration so that after a series-of regenerations the level of the brine in the tank is sufilciently low to permit of a new supply of salt being placed in the tank without the tank running over. It is desirable that the level of the brinein the brine tank be lower byabout one or two inches after each re-' generation and refill than it was before. The segments may be adjusted according to changes in the speed of rotation of the disc 83 due to the adjustment of the disc 82 on the meter shaft.

It will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as come within the scope of my claims and my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a water softener, a softening tank, a brine tank and a source of hard water, a valve casing having a service outlet and a connection with the softening tank, with the brine tank and with the source of hard water, means to cause brine to flow from said brine tank to said valve casing, a second valve casing having a drain outlet and a connection with the softening tank and with the source of hard water, a valve in each casing having hydraulic shifting means associated therewith, a pair of pilot valves operatively responsive to the flow of the hard water 'and hydraulically connected to shift the valves nected to supply water independently of and in opposition to the effect produced by the firstnamed hard-water-operated valve, the other pilot valve being arranged to shift said lastnamed valve to stop the regeneration and to refill and rinse.

2. In a water softener, a softening tank, a brine tank and a source of hard water, a valve casing having a service outlet and a connection with the softening tank, with the brine tank and with the source of hard water, means to cause brine to flow from said brine tank to said valve casing, a second valve casing having a drain outlet and a connection with the softening tank and with the source of hard water, a third valve casing having connection with the first-named valve casingand with the source of hard water, a valve in each valve casing having hydraulic shifting means associated therewith, a pilot valve operatively responsive to the flow of the hard water' and connected to admit hard water to the hydraulic shiftingmeans of said first two named valve casings to move the valves therein for regeneration, and a second pilot valve operatively responsive to the flow of the hard water to admit hard water to the hydraulic shifting means of said last-named valve casing to operate the valve therein to direct water to halt the operation of said brine flow causing means so as to stop the regeneration and to rinse the softening tank and refill the brine tank.

3. In a water softener, a softening tank, a brine tank and a source of hard water, a valve casing having a service outlet and a connection with the softening tank, with the brine tank. and with the source of hard water, suction-producing means to cause brine to flow from said brine tank to said valve casing, a second valve casing having a drain outlet and a connection with the softening tank and with the source of hard water, a third valve casing having'connection with the first-named valve casing and with the source of hard water, a valve in each valve casing having hydraulic shifting means associated therewith, a pilot valve operatively responsive to the flow of the hard water and connected to admit hard two named valve casings to move the valves therein for regeneration, and a second pilot valve operatively responsive to the flow of the hard water and connected to admit hard water to the hydraulic shifting means of said last-named valve casing to operate the valve therein to direct water to overcome the suction of said suctionproducing means to halt the flow of brine so as I brine tankand to the softening tank, a hard water source having a connection arranged to operate the injector means, whereby brine is drawn from the brine tank into the softening tank, a second connection from the hard water.

source adapted to furnish water to the InJector means to counteract the injector action thereof and to refill the brine tank and wash the softening tank, and means operated by the flow of the hard water to open said second connection.

5. In a water softener, a softening tankand a brine tank, an injector means connected to the brine tank and the softening tank, a hard water source having-a connection arranged to operate the injector, whereby brine is drawn from the brine tank into the softening tank, an auxiliary hard water pipe adapted to furnish water to the injector means to overcome the injector action thereof and refill the brine tank andwash the softening tank, a valve in the auxiliary pipe, and means operated by the flow of the hard water to move the-valve to open said auxiliary pipe.

6. In a water softener, a softening tank having a service outlet and a drain outlet, a brine tank connected to the softening tank, a source of hard water, a valve assembly arranged in one position to direct the hard water through the softening tank to the service outlet and in another position to direct brine from the brine tank through the softening'tank to the drain outlet, valve means actuated by the flow of the hard water and hydraulically connected to said valve assembly to apply hard water to shift said valve assembly, said flow-actuated means including a pair of valves, a cam arranged to open one valve and a cam arranged to close the same valve, water to the hydraulic shifting means of said first means to rotatably support said cams, a flowoperated device to rotate said cams, and a third cam arranged to operate the other valve to rinse the softening tank and refill the brine tank.

' ARTHUR C. ZIMMERMAN. 

